ProZyme is Looking for a Director/VP of R&D

ProZyme in San Francisco is Looking for a Director/VP of R&D. If you're interested in the job listing, take a look here.

RESPONSIBILITIES: • Drive the innovation of research and processes within ProZyme’s IP space. • Interface with senior management to establish R&D business objectives and milestones. • Knowledge and experience using the latest techniques in project management. • Translate corporate business objectives into effective long and short-term IP strategies. • Guide the department in prioritizing business and research goals and ultimately, achieving results. • Drive improvements to ProZyme’s R&D systems, including: Design Control, Engineering Studies, Engineering Builds, and Life Cycle Management. • Represent ProZyme’s technology in public forums, publications, and technical presentations. • Function as a hands-on leader guiding project teams, establishing high-level timelines, and facilitating project management. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish product specifications, resource planning, manufacturing scale-up, process adherence and improvement, and the development of IP strategies. • Represent R&D in developing the corporate budget, as well as process controls. • Promote communication within the department and represent R&D in executive level decision-making. • Assist the efforts of Sales and Marketing by providing R&D support and guidance. • Promote efficient, compliant, and effective documentation within the department. • Facilitate career development, hiring, performance management, and recruiting for R&D. • Ensure compliance and promote a high-level of integrity within the department. • This position reports directly to the President. QUALIFICATIONS: • Track record of developing innovative ideas and innovative processes for achieving R&D success. • Outstanding track record of success in delivering products on schedule and within budget. • Ability to translate research goals into a business plan that targets corporate objectives. • Experience developing successful IP strategies and R&D teams. • Organizational savvy and the ability to work with multiple departments within the company. • Management style that is results-driven and team focused. • Excellent understanding of risk management, resource planning, design control, product development, and life cycle management. • Excellent management skills with the ability to guide teams and promote career development. • Possess the ability to work with scientists, and at the same time communicate effectively with the executive team on business objectives. • Must be able to earn the respect of the R&D team through sound scientific knowledge of the field. • Prior experience working in FDA regulated environments. • Candidates with experience in industry, who have developed and transferred products to a manufacturing setting, are strongly preferred. • Experience in GxP/QSR Quality Systems is a plus. • Doctoral degree in related field is strongly preferred. • 10 years R&D experience in the life sciences or healthcare industries.

First Drug for Huntington's Disease Chorea Approved by the FDA

Xenazine (tetrabenazine) is the first agent approved by the FDA for chorea in Huntington's Disease (HD). A highly selective and reversible centrally-acting dopamine depleting drug, tetrabenazine works by inhibiting a molecule known as VMAT2 (vesicular monoamine transporter 2).

Genetic testing is available for Huntington's Disease, however this gets into many ethical issues because some people don't want to get tested for HD. Well, it's great to see an agent actually approved by the FDA for this neurodegenerative disease.

DVI, S-Video, VGA, HDMI, or DisplayPort?

Where are we going with display interface connectors? VGA will eventually get replaced. I seem to be finding fewer notebooks with S-Video ports. What will become the next "standard" for laptops and mobile devices? Will the smallest connector win?

Will it be the bulky DVI? HDMI? Or DisplayPort?

Will future laptops have 4 or 5 types of display interface connectors? I'm mainly thinking about tiny MIDs and UMPCs. The OQO model 02 has a HDMI port. The new Lenovo Thinkpad X301 has a DisplayPort.

Michael Phelps' 12,000 Calorie-a-Day Diet

The Olympics have been incredible this year. I love this story about Michael Phelps' 12,000 Calorie-a-Day Diet. It's so hard to imagine how someone could eat that much every day and stay so healthy! Can you imagine how much ATP gets burned by this swimmer's muscles? The USDA recommends that most average adults consume 2200 calories daily. Most average people would also gain 1 pound each week if they eat 500 extra calories daily. In other words, it takes roughly 3500 extra calories to gain 1 pound.

Palm Treo Pro 850 Windows Mobile

The latest Palm Treo looks like it's going to be a very popular phone. Take a look at the Treo Pro 850 running Windows Mobile! I used to have a Treo 700wx on Verizon Wireless. I liked the phone, but it was big, slow, and didn't have enough memory. Plus, that old phone lacked a built-in GPS.

Well, the new Treo 850 may be one of the best Windows Mobile phones for those who want a hardware keyboard but don't want a slider. Can't wait to see it!

Cisco Connected Health

Cisco is a huge player in the healthcare technology sector. A key industry solution provided by Cisco is called "Cisco Connected Health." Want to stay connected all the time? Improvements in the healthcare system will only occur by leveraging certain pieces of information technology so that patients and clinicians can improve inefficiencies and streamline data flow. Patients are more than consumers and they need to have access to vital information during critical times.

Sharp Willcom D4 (WS016SH) or OQO model 02

So the Sharp Willcom D4 is one of the latest micro PCs that has emerged. Some are calling it a UMPC while others are calling it a MID. Well, if it's running Microsoft Vista, then I would call it a UMPC. Unfortunately, the D4 is not being sold in the USA by any major retailers. You can purchase an Asian model through certain online sources if you're dying to try one out.

The big question for me is: how does this new device compare with the OQO model 02? I'm still a big fan of my OQO and I'm using it more and more. Everyone seems to agree that you need the extended battery for the Sharp Willcom D4.

Bandwidth Testing

I've been doing some bandwidth testing on my XV6800.

www.mobilespeedtest.com seems to give some consistent speeds for me, but the speeds vary depending on the type of browser I'm using:

using Pocket IE
732 kps
928 kps
838 kps
932 kps

using Opera Mini
2.5 Mps
2.1 Mps
1.5 Mps

Advances in Telemedicine

Technology continues to advance medicine in many ways. High-speed internet connections are making telemedicine options more feasible in many rural areas.

The Lancet Neurology has an article about a telemedicine study called the STRokE DOC trial. In this study, telemedicine consults led to improved use of thrombolytic agents for strokes. Although there were no differences in mortality or functional outcomes, the authors conclude that telemedicine may be an effective option to assist in strike care.